Multiple match book case



Feb. 2, 1943. G, M LEEv 2,309,965

MULTIPLE MATCHl BooK CASE.l

Filed May 17, 1941 Patented Feb. 2, 1943 STATES PATENT orties? 1 Claim.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in cases for holding match books such as are commonly provided and having match-striking abrasive Surfaces on the front faces thereof at their lower ends. One of my objects is to provide a case for a plurality of such books with their abrasive surfaces exposed for use Without opening the case, which shall be of such shape and size that the case may be very conveniently carried by the user.

Another object is to provide a simple and economical construction of such case, and other objects as will be manifest fro-m the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a rear perspective view of a case embodying my invention, showing it in closed condition.

Figure 2 is a face view of the case showing it in open condition.

Figure 3 is a section taken at the line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the .direction of the arrow, the case being in open condition.

Figure 4I is a section taken at the line 4 on Fig.. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, the case being shown in closed condition; and

Figure 5, a section taken at the line 5 on Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention the case comprises, generally stated, a hollow back portion 6 for receiving two match books such as above referred to (one of which is shown at l) disposed side-by-side, and a cover 8 for completing the enclosure of the match books, the back portion 5 of the case and the cover 8 being formed of any suitable material, such as for eX- ample a plastic as for instance tenite.

The back portion 5 of the case is provided internally, midway of its ends, with a partition 9 which divides the interior of the case into two matchbook-receiving compartments I and II. A plate I2 shown as seated on a ledge I3 on the back portion and secured in place thereon in any suitable way, extends lengthwise of the case at the front face of the case and in spaced relation to the rear wall I4 of the case and forms the front walls'of the compartments II) and II. By this construction the lower ends of the compartments I5 and II present pockets I5 and I6, respectively, into which the match-books 'I (their covers being iirst torn ofi) are inserted with their match-striking abrasive surfaces II at the rear wall Ifi of the case, and in which pockets they are frictionally held in place, as illustrated of the match book shown. The rear Wall I4 of the Cil case has elongated slots I8 forming striking openings, with which the abrasive surfaces I1 of the match books register in the positioning of the match books in the case as described, thus exposing these abrasive surfaces for use The cover 8 is of hollow construction presenting a front platepo-rtion I9 and end walls 20 into the space between which the back portion 6 of the case extends, the end walls thus overlapping the end Walls 2| of the back portion 6 in the closed position of the cover, the rear edges 22 of the end walls being shown as inclining toward the lower edge of the cover as represented of the one edge in Fig. 1.

The cover 8 is hinged at its upper end to the back portion 6 to permit it to be swung into and out of open position. The hinging means shown for this purpose comprise pins 23 which extend through the end-walls 20 of the cover and into bosses 24 provided on the interior of the back portion I at its upper interior angles.

Any suitable means for normally holding the cover 8 in closed position may be provided. Those shown comprise lugs 25 on the inner surfaces of the end walls 20 of the cover which spring into recesses 2S in the end walls 2l of the back portion 6 when the cover is swung to closed position, the material of which the case is made permitting of the necessary flexing to permit this operation and also the withdrawal of the lugs 25 from the recesses 26 in swinging the cover out of closed position. A thumb-nail recess 21 in the rear surface of the cover 8 at its lower edge permits the user to apply to the cover relatively slight force for disengaging the lugs 25 from the recesses 26 to release the cover for swinging movement.

Because of the strike-opening I8, the matches may be struck on either of the abrasive surfaces I'I after the cover has been closed.

After all of the matches in a book have been used the empty stub may be easily removed from vthe case and a new book of matches inserted to place.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modiiied and altered and the invention embodied in other forms of structure without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A match-book case comprising, a relatively elongated body portion having at end-walls and rounded side walls, partition means extending between said side walls dividing the interior into at least two compartments for reception of match books, a plate of substantially match-book-stubwidth extending between said end-walls and overlying said partition means providing pockets for reception of match-book stubs, said body portion formed with strike openings in its rear wall, a cover member comprising a front plate and end-walls spaced to overlie the end-walls of the body portion, pintle pins hinging the endl0 Walls of the cover to those of the body portion, the front plate of the cover terminating short of the axial line of said pintles to provide a stop against excess opening of the cover, said cover end Walls tapering toward their free ends and the free edge of the cover plate also tapering to substantially a feather edge in alignment with the taper of said end walls.

GERHARD M. LEE. 

